The non-alcoholic treatment of disease / by John Higginbottom.

  • Higginbottom, John, 1788-1876.
Date:
1862[?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The non-alcoholic treatment of disease / by John Higginbottom. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in emetic doses as an invaluable remedy in disorders and diseases, in which alcoholic stimulants have been thought necessary. I do aiot know another medicine equal to it in the whole of our materia medica, both in the commencement of the disease, and also in the sinking state of disease. I give ipecacuanha emetics nearly as freely as I would a purgative; nor have I known any injurious -results, but have always found them perfectly safe and satisfactory in their effects. After twenty years of constant and unremitting attention to the effects of alcoholic stimulants on the human system, in an extensive practice as a general practioner, I discontinued them altogether both as food and medicine, now about thirty years since, from a full conviction of their insufficiency and dangerous qualities, even before the origin of the Temperance Societies. Some years before the establishment of Temperance Societies, these convictions were thrust upon me; and upon their formation I gave my most hearty concurrence and assistance. It favoured me with an extensive field of observation, and I particularly marked the chauges which occurred in the habits, personal appearance, and health of the members. The chief motive I had in joining the society was for the purpose of preventing and curing drunkenness, disregarding altogether any pecuniary loss. I consider it a legitimate employ¬ ment for me as a medical man. Previously to the institution of these societies, drunkenness was deemed incurable. I am not come here to give a Temperance lecture; but I may say with truth that Total Abstinence Societies have effected more good than all the united efforts of all the benevolent societies of England, of a secular nature; it does away with the necessity of benevolent institutions. Delavan, the great American Temperance advocate, said “that if total abstinence from alcoholic fluids became general in England, we should have to search for objects of charity.” I now state some observations on the effects of alcohol on the human system, connected with these societies. 1. The first circumstance which arrested my attention after being some time in the Temperance Society, was by members saying that they had lost their rheumatism (or gout) since they had abstained from alcoholic drinks. I designated it at an early period of the society, alcoholism, not rheumatism, as abstaining from stimulants cured them. The improved state of health of many corroborated the truth of that passage in Shakespear, “Ask God for Temperance; that’s the appliance only which your disease requires.” If abstinence from all alcoholic and fermented liquids were prevalent, we should seek in vain for a gouty patient; proving the truth of the opinion of doctor Erasmus Darwin, who said “he never knew a case of gout but the patient was addicted to the use of vinous or fermented drinks.” I believe, even in hereditary predisposition to the disease, it is probable that attacks might ultimately be prevented by con¬ tinued abstinence.